Improvement in rotary engines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT lI N ROTARY ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,577, dated July 4,1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, TRUMAN MEREIAM and JAMES. CUSHING, of the villageof Waterloo, in the county ot' Jeerson and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented a new and useful Improved Numerical Reciprocating RotarySteam-Engine; and we do hereby declare that the following is' a full,clear, and exact description of the"construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the eugine.Fig. 2 is a view of the face-plate. Fig. 3 is a transverse view of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a view ofthe semicircle. Fig. 5 is a view ofthesteam-chest. Fig. 6 .is a transverse view of the chest. Fig. 7 is anedge of the steam-chest. Fig. 8 is parts ot' the oscillating joint andsteam-pipe. Fig. 9 is the exhaust cap and pipe. Fig. 1() is the boxesand plates with setscrews. Fig. 12 is the cross-head and frictiontruckin pieces and together.

Letter A, Fig. 2, shows the ports in the face plate; letter C, Figs. 2and 3, thc shaft; D, the drum; O O O O, the apertures through the drum;F F F, the cylinders; G G, the sliding rods; I I, the friction-trucks;K, the rim; H andJJJ J,Fig. 12,the friction-trucks in pieces andtogether. Letters M M, Fig. 4, show the inside and outside lianges ofthe semicircles; N N N N, Fig. 5, the circular raised apertures in thesteam-chest; E, the depression in the steam-chest; L, Fig. 8,steam-pipe; R, Fig. 1, the lever on the chest; P P P, Fig. 10, the setscrews in the plates on the boxes.

The shaft C is so constructed that it rests on the boxes, Fig. 10, withmale and female centers at each end of the shait. On the shalt is thedrum D, Fig. 3, on which rests the end of the twelve cylinders F F F,more or less, to suit the maker, and modify the power of the engine. Thecylinders F F are attached to the back side of the faceplate, Fig. 3.The sliding rods G Gr are connected to the cylinders F F, and extend tothe rim K, upon which the cross-head H, Fig. 12, with thefriction-trucks attached, slide, the piston rodand head being attachedto the cross-head II, with one or two friction-trucks, I I I, as thevelocity may require, on each side, to run on the semicircles M M, bywhich the rotary motion and power are obtained.

The steam-chest, Fig. 5, rests on the shaft 0,' with circular-raisedapertures N' N, adapted to the ports A A, in the faceplates, Fig. 2, soas to admit the steam into the cylinders yF F at each end, alternatelyproducing the outward and inward motion of the piston and frictiontrucksI I on the flanges M M of the semicircles, Fig. 4, the steam alternatelyentering and escaping at the four centers as the ports pass them, andfinally escaping into the depressed part E ofthe steam-chest, Fig. 5,thence through the aperture 0 O in the drum D into the exhaust cap andpipe, Fig. 9.

0n the transverse view of chest, Fig. 6, is the oscillating steam-joint,Fig. 8, to which is attached the steam-pipe L,` that conducts the steaminto the steam-chest, Fig. 5, and admits the chest to oscillateone-quarter and reverse the motion of the engine by means ofthe lever Ron the chest.

In the plates on the boxes, Fig. 10, are the set-screws P P P, by whichthe steam-chest, Fig. 5, is adj usted to the face-plate, Fig. 2, as alsothe exhaust cap and pipe, Fig. 9, to the drum D.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. The arrangement of the cylinders and pistons upon a revolving drum ona shaft, in combination with a face plate and ports, and adapted tocircular apertures in a stationary steam-chest, so that a constantpressure of active steam may be alternately applied to the pistons,thereby increasing the leverage and speed, as herein set forth anddescribed.

2. The two semicircles, in combination with friction-trucks on across-head, by which, in connection with the movement of a commonpiston, rot-ary motion and power are obtained, as herein set forthanddescribed.

3. The steam-chest, with an oscillating joint in such a peculiararrangement andadaptation to a face-plate as will admit steam tocylinders and permit the chest to revolve oneqnarler, and therebyreverse the motion of the engine, as herein set forth and described.

TR UMAN MERRIAM. JAMES UUSIIING.

Witnesses:

A. B. BISHOP, Ons. BOWMAN.

